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Dear BIOMECH-L Netters:
Here is a summary of the responses I had received regarding my request
for information on whiplash injury. It was extremely helpful and I would
like to say "THANK YOU!" to everyone who had responded with information,
references, suggestions, resources, leads, and even names of individuals to
contact (who are experts in the area).
I have edited out the extraneous header information and personal
comments. The original request and summary of responses are as follows.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have been asked to be a possible expert witness in a lawsuit involving
a whiplash inury due to a low impact car crash. Before making any kind
of a decision to be involved, I need more information (since I have not
done this before).
I know I am not the first biomechanist to be asked to be an expert
witness and I know I will not be the last. I will post any responses I
receive (unless the responder requests anonymity), and hopefully it will
help someone else out there who may be asked to be an expert witness.
Here is the scenario.
A girl in a small car exits a freeway, stops at a light, is rear ended
by a truck, and claims to have whiplash injury. The medical report
substantiates the whiplash injury, but there is no bumper damage to either
vehicle.
Any opinions regarding this scenario is welcomed.
I know I will need information regarding the mass of the truck and car,
the velocity of the truck at impact, the velocities of the vehicles after
impact, the transfer of momentum, the coefficient of friction, etc. But
I need additional information that I don't have (and not sure where to
best locate it efficiently)
1. Are there any studies out there involving low impact crashes?
2. Is there any information out there on the types of speed of crashes
into stationary objects that could cause a whiplash injury?
3. What is generally the contact time ofthe vehicles (into each other)
in collisions of this sort?
4. What kinds of G forces or accelerative forces occur to the car that
is being struck from the rear?
5. What kinds of forces is needed to accelerate the head back to cause a
whiplash injury?
6. What kinds of data is available on bumper damage at low impact speeds
and what is the possibility and probability of whiplash injury without
any bumper damage (especially with very well designed bumpers)?
7. What kinds of accelerative (or decelerative) forces have been
measured and recorded on crash dummies during low impact speeds?
8. What kinds of accelerative forces can the neck flexors and extensors
withstand and still stabilize the head when expecting an impact and when
not expecting one?
9. What is the most expedient and efficient way one would go about
determining whether it is possible to get a whiplash injury from a
low impact crash of this nature?
I do not believe in "re-inventing the wheel" if there are experts out
there (and I am sure there are) who can provide me with this information
(or at least provide leads and/or references).
Any suggestions, opinions, insights, leads, references, discussion,
input, and comments that would provide me with information and guidance
regarding this matter would be greatly appreciated (and of course, I will
post any responses I receive)
************************************************** ********************
* *
* Danny Too, Ph.D. Phone: (702)-895-4875 *
* University of Nevada Las Vegas Fax: (702)-895-4231 *
* 4505 Maryland Parkway E-mail: dtoo@nevada.edu *
* Las Vegas, NV 89154-3034 *
* *
************************************************** ********************
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Djdalton@aol.com
I met a guy last year who works at Wayne State
University Biomechanics Lab in Michigan. His name is Tim Walilko and his
e-mail address is: walilko@ssb.eng.wayne.edu
I haven't talked to him in a while, but I assume he still works there. The
lab there does impact studies (for GM I believe), so Tim or someone there may
be able to help you.
I believe that Dr. Dick Nelson (Penn State) was
planning on putting together a list of people involved in court cases such as
what you're getting involved in, so you may look to him as a source for help.
... anyway, there was a session at the last ACSM conference about expert
witnessing.
Again, good luck.
Donna Dalton
djdalton@aol.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: jives@camel.campbell.edu (Jeff Ives)
Danny,
Although I do not have any specific information, I do have a
potential contact for you. his name is Bob Andres, an
ergonomist/biomechanist who has done some work as an
expert witness, etc. I am not sure of his present address,
but he was an adjunct professor at U Mass, Amherst. Try
reaching him at:
Dept. of Industrial Engineering
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003
Phone # for the dept is: (413)545-2851
(I believe that is the area code for Amherst)
Good luck,
Jeff Ives, PhD
Dept Exercise Science
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC 27506
jives@camel.campbell.edu
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: HowieDBPG@aol.com
Hi Dan: I would offer the following insite. As I understand this type of
situation, the following will occur. When a subject is rearended, the head
is rapidly extended on the cervical spine. As the neck flexor muscles are
stretched, the spindle fibers and golgi tendon apparatus, sense this stretch
and fire as a response. At that time, the head will now flex forward in
response to the mechanics of the accident, precisely while the above
"sensors" have begun to resist extension and therefore aid in the rapid
flexion motion. This is probably why the does not need to be any true auto
damage for the resultant injury to be real. BTW, it is my understanding that
the drivers who do the rear ending are injured at a far less rate than those
who become rear ended. Prehaps the above mechanism is responsible. A Dr.
Thomas Dorman (MD) in San Luis Obispo, CA is currently working on this in a
study and he may be able to provide more information for you. This is
actually his concept and he can provide a good deal more of the particulars.
Good luck.
Howard J. Dannaberg,DPM
howiedbpg@aol.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------
From: mys@ip.chalmers.se (Mats Svensson)
Dear Dr. Too,
McConnell et al. (SAE paper no. 930889) carried out staged rear-end
collisions with male volunteers seated in standard cars. From their results
it appears that neck injuries could be induced at "delta-velocity" of the
impacted vehicle of less than 8 km/h.
Women are known to be twice as vulnerable as men in this impact situation.
Thus, the threshold delta-velocity for induced neck injury can be expected
to be significantly less than 8 km/h for women.
The risk of neck injury in a rear-end impact does of course not have a
simple relationship to delta-velocity, but the figures above give a hint of
what may be possible.
I will send a copy of my Ph.D. thesis to you;
Svensson, M.Y. (1993):"Neck-Injuries in Rear-End Collisions - Sites and
Biomechanical Causes of the Injuries, Test Methods and Preventive
Measures". Chalmers University of Technology, G=F6teborg, Sweden, ISBN
91-7032-878-1
and a copy of a Ph.D. thesis of a colleague of mine, Gert Nilson;
Nilson, G. (1994): "Effects of Seat and Seat-Belt Design on Occupant
Response in Frontal and Rear Impacts". Chalmers Univ. of Techn., G=F6teborg,
Sweden, ISBN 91-7197-031-2
I think you will find some valuable references in those two books.
Best regards
Mats
.________________________________________.
| |
| Mats Y. Svensson, Ph.D. |
| Dept. of Injury Prevention |
| Chalmers University of Technology |
| S-412 96 Goteborg |
| SWEDEN |
| |
| Phone: +46 31 772 3644 |
| Fax: +46 31 772 3660 |
| E-mail: mys@ip.chalmers.se |
|________________________________________|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Terry Smith
Hello Danny...
Sounds like you have got a very interesting case on your hands! Since you are
new to the expert witness field, I would advise you to use care and caution
in what you do and what you say - there are many people who make it a full
time career to act as expert witnesses in cases such as yours - these people
have typically worked in the automotive industry or within the impact
biomechanics spectrum of human motion. Consequently, they have a first hand
understanding of low speed whiplash injury as a result of cadaver or human
subject testing - and they have investigated HUNDREDS of auto accidents which
allows them to quickly calculate delta v values for any collision
configuration.
As with other people who have asked for help along the net regarding an
injury case, I would strongly urge you to remain within your own area of
expertise - this may or may not be whiplash injury, I don't know. However, to
remain credible to your clients and to a jury, you must have a thorough
understanding of the research and of the issues involved - as with any
biomechanical topic, there are good papers and bad papers, and certain key
variables which will influence the outcome of any given accident. This type
of knowledge does not come from a cursory glance at the existing research on
a specific topic.
But after all this, I don't want to scare you off - expert witness testimony
and personal injury liability cases are very interesting in that each case is
unique from an investigative point of view - nothing you can build a
statistically significant sample from - but interesting nonetheless.
As per your whiplash injury cases, I would recommend that you start looking
at the STAPP car crash conference proceedings and get your hands on the
Traffic Accident Investigation Manuals sold through the Northwestern
University Traffic Institute, Evanston, Illinois. These are the BIBLES of
Traffic Accident Reconstruction.
Good Luck
Terry Smith
USC Head Protection Research Laboratory
Los Angeles, California
---------------------------------------------------------------------
From: jeff aitchison
Hi Dan!
Please don't quote me because I'm certainly no expert in this area.
However, my supervisor (Dr. Romilly) and my co-supervisor (Dr. Hershler)
have both done extensive research in this area. I don't know what side
you will be working with but our research tends to support the victims.
This is usually because the insurance companies have unreasonable
criteria for whiplash claims to protect themselves (not unreasonably
sometimes).
I believe that Dr. R. and Dr. H. have published papers in this area and
I know Dr. H. is often an expert witness in whiplash cases.
You can contact Dr. Romilly at: romilly@mech.ubc.ca
I'm not sure if Dr. Hershler has an email address. If he does it is:
hershler@mech.ubc.ca
Hope this helps out.
Jeff Aitchison aitchiso@mech.ubc.ca
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Richard C. Nelson"
Danny: I suggest you contact the following person who is working as a fulltime
expert witness and has served as an expert in a large number of auto accidents
Mr. Jeffrey B. Wheeler, M.S. Biomechanics: Research & Consulting, 924 Weest
wood Boulevard, Suite 860, Los Angeles, CA 90024, Tel: 310-443-5296, FAX: 310-
443-5298. In recent years I have become increasingly involved as an expert wit
ness in a variety of cases and have learned a great deal about the process,etc.
I would be very willing to speak with you about becoming an expert witness
and also can send you a variety of documents regarding my activities and the ro
le of bioemchanists in this arena. Please feel free to call me at 814-865-3445
Regards, Richard (Dick) Nelson
Biomechanics Lab
Penn State University
e-mail RCN1@PSUVM.PSU.EDU
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Amy C. Courtney"
Hi,
I read your post and would like to offer some information on
existing experts in this field. I am not necessarily recommending
their services, but the little contact I have had with them has
made a good impression on me. The following is
a small company that specializes in motor vehicle accident
reconstruction. They may be willing to help you with some of
your questions.
Henry Lipian
Introtech, Inc.
Accident Reconstruction Services
PO Box 718
Columbia Station, OH 44028
(216)748-3193 or (216)236-3702
Best Wishes,
Amy Courtney, Ph.D.
Orthopaedic Biomechanics Lab
Beth Israel Hospital and Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA
acc@bihobl2.bih.harvard.edu
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: HowieDBPG@aol.com
Hi Danny:
Tom Dorman's address and phone follow:
171 N. Santa Rosa St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 43215-1322
Phone: 805-781-3388
fax: 805-544-3126
Good luck.
Regards:
Howard
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: mys@ip.chalmers.se (Mats Svensson)
Hi Danny,
This is the reference,
McConnell, W. E.; Howard, R. P.; Guzman, H. M.; Bomar, J. B.; Raddin, J H.;
Benedict, J. V.; Smith, L. H.; Hatsell, C. P. (1993): Analysis of Human
Test Subject Responses to Low Velocity Rear End Impacts. SP-975, SAE paper
no. 930889, pp. 21-30, SAE Inc., ISBN 1-56091-360-6
Best regards,
Mats
.________________________________________.
| |
| Mats Y. Svensson, Ph.D. |
| Dept. of Injury Prevention |
| Chalmers University of Technology |
| S-412 96 Goteborg |
| SWEDEN |
| |
| Phone: +46 31 772 3644 |
| Fax: +46 31 772 3660 |
| E-mail: mys@ip.chalmers.se |
|________________________________________|
------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.S.: For those who may be interested, the litigation involved a 31 year
old female in a Toyota pickup truck (5999 pound) traveling 40 mph,
and rear-ended by a water bottle truck (18,880 pounds) traveling at 50 mph.
The medical report and x-rays confirmed a whiplash injury, after which
she went through 5.5 months of medical treatment, followed by 6.5 months
of physical therapy. She did not have medical insurance and initiated
legal action to recoup her losses. The maximum amount that can be awarded
for that case would be $25,000 and the amount determined by an arbritrator. I
was asked by the plaintiffs attorney to determine whether the possibility
of whiplash could have occurred.
Danny Too
************************************************** ********************
* *
* Danny Too, Ph.D. Phone: (702)-895-4875 *
* University of Nevada Las Vegas Fax: (702)-895-4231 *
* 4505 Maryland Parkway E-mail: dtoo@nevada.edu *
* Las Vegas, NV 89154-3034 *
* *
************************************************** ********************
Here is a summary of the responses I had received regarding my request
for information on whiplash injury. It was extremely helpful and I would
like to say "THANK YOU!" to everyone who had responded with information,
references, suggestions, resources, leads, and even names of individuals to
contact (who are experts in the area).
I have edited out the extraneous header information and personal
comments. The original request and summary of responses are as follows.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have been asked to be a possible expert witness in a lawsuit involving
a whiplash inury due to a low impact car crash. Before making any kind
of a decision to be involved, I need more information (since I have not
done this before).
I know I am not the first biomechanist to be asked to be an expert
witness and I know I will not be the last. I will post any responses I
receive (unless the responder requests anonymity), and hopefully it will
help someone else out there who may be asked to be an expert witness.
Here is the scenario.
A girl in a small car exits a freeway, stops at a light, is rear ended
by a truck, and claims to have whiplash injury. The medical report
substantiates the whiplash injury, but there is no bumper damage to either
vehicle.
Any opinions regarding this scenario is welcomed.
I know I will need information regarding the mass of the truck and car,
the velocity of the truck at impact, the velocities of the vehicles after
impact, the transfer of momentum, the coefficient of friction, etc. But
I need additional information that I don't have (and not sure where to
best locate it efficiently)
1. Are there any studies out there involving low impact crashes?
2. Is there any information out there on the types of speed of crashes
into stationary objects that could cause a whiplash injury?
3. What is generally the contact time ofthe vehicles (into each other)
in collisions of this sort?
4. What kinds of G forces or accelerative forces occur to the car that
is being struck from the rear?
5. What kinds of forces is needed to accelerate the head back to cause a
whiplash injury?
6. What kinds of data is available on bumper damage at low impact speeds
and what is the possibility and probability of whiplash injury without
any bumper damage (especially with very well designed bumpers)?
7. What kinds of accelerative (or decelerative) forces have been
measured and recorded on crash dummies during low impact speeds?
8. What kinds of accelerative forces can the neck flexors and extensors
withstand and still stabilize the head when expecting an impact and when
not expecting one?
9. What is the most expedient and efficient way one would go about
determining whether it is possible to get a whiplash injury from a
low impact crash of this nature?
I do not believe in "re-inventing the wheel" if there are experts out
there (and I am sure there are) who can provide me with this information
(or at least provide leads and/or references).
Any suggestions, opinions, insights, leads, references, discussion,
input, and comments that would provide me with information and guidance
regarding this matter would be greatly appreciated (and of course, I will
post any responses I receive)
************************************************** ********************
* *
* Danny Too, Ph.D. Phone: (702)-895-4875 *
* University of Nevada Las Vegas Fax: (702)-895-4231 *
* 4505 Maryland Parkway E-mail: dtoo@nevada.edu *
* Las Vegas, NV 89154-3034 *
* *
************************************************** ********************
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Djdalton@aol.com
I met a guy last year who works at Wayne State
University Biomechanics Lab in Michigan. His name is Tim Walilko and his
e-mail address is: walilko@ssb.eng.wayne.edu
I haven't talked to him in a while, but I assume he still works there. The
lab there does impact studies (for GM I believe), so Tim or someone there may
be able to help you.
I believe that Dr. Dick Nelson (Penn State) was
planning on putting together a list of people involved in court cases such as
what you're getting involved in, so you may look to him as a source for help.
... anyway, there was a session at the last ACSM conference about expert
witnessing.
Again, good luck.
Donna Dalton
djdalton@aol.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: jives@camel.campbell.edu (Jeff Ives)
Danny,
Although I do not have any specific information, I do have a
potential contact for you. his name is Bob Andres, an
ergonomist/biomechanist who has done some work as an
expert witness, etc. I am not sure of his present address,
but he was an adjunct professor at U Mass, Amherst. Try
reaching him at:
Dept. of Industrial Engineering
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003
Phone # for the dept is: (413)545-2851
(I believe that is the area code for Amherst)
Good luck,
Jeff Ives, PhD
Dept Exercise Science
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC 27506
jives@camel.campbell.edu
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: HowieDBPG@aol.com
Hi Dan: I would offer the following insite. As I understand this type of
situation, the following will occur. When a subject is rearended, the head
is rapidly extended on the cervical spine. As the neck flexor muscles are
stretched, the spindle fibers and golgi tendon apparatus, sense this stretch
and fire as a response. At that time, the head will now flex forward in
response to the mechanics of the accident, precisely while the above
"sensors" have begun to resist extension and therefore aid in the rapid
flexion motion. This is probably why the does not need to be any true auto
damage for the resultant injury to be real. BTW, it is my understanding that
the drivers who do the rear ending are injured at a far less rate than those
who become rear ended. Prehaps the above mechanism is responsible. A Dr.
Thomas Dorman (MD) in San Luis Obispo, CA is currently working on this in a
study and he may be able to provide more information for you. This is
actually his concept and he can provide a good deal more of the particulars.
Good luck.
Howard J. Dannaberg,DPM
howiedbpg@aol.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------
From: mys@ip.chalmers.se (Mats Svensson)
Dear Dr. Too,
McConnell et al. (SAE paper no. 930889) carried out staged rear-end
collisions with male volunteers seated in standard cars. From their results
it appears that neck injuries could be induced at "delta-velocity" of the
impacted vehicle of less than 8 km/h.
Women are known to be twice as vulnerable as men in this impact situation.
Thus, the threshold delta-velocity for induced neck injury can be expected
to be significantly less than 8 km/h for women.
The risk of neck injury in a rear-end impact does of course not have a
simple relationship to delta-velocity, but the figures above give a hint of
what may be possible.
I will send a copy of my Ph.D. thesis to you;
Svensson, M.Y. (1993):"Neck-Injuries in Rear-End Collisions - Sites and
Biomechanical Causes of the Injuries, Test Methods and Preventive
Measures". Chalmers University of Technology, G=F6teborg, Sweden, ISBN
91-7032-878-1
and a copy of a Ph.D. thesis of a colleague of mine, Gert Nilson;
Nilson, G. (1994): "Effects of Seat and Seat-Belt Design on Occupant
Response in Frontal and Rear Impacts". Chalmers Univ. of Techn., G=F6teborg,
Sweden, ISBN 91-7197-031-2
I think you will find some valuable references in those two books.
Best regards
Mats
.________________________________________.
| |
| Mats Y. Svensson, Ph.D. |
| Dept. of Injury Prevention |
| Chalmers University of Technology |
| S-412 96 Goteborg |
| SWEDEN |
| |
| Phone: +46 31 772 3644 |
| Fax: +46 31 772 3660 |
| E-mail: mys@ip.chalmers.se |
|________________________________________|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Terry Smith
Hello Danny...
Sounds like you have got a very interesting case on your hands! Since you are
new to the expert witness field, I would advise you to use care and caution
in what you do and what you say - there are many people who make it a full
time career to act as expert witnesses in cases such as yours - these people
have typically worked in the automotive industry or within the impact
biomechanics spectrum of human motion. Consequently, they have a first hand
understanding of low speed whiplash injury as a result of cadaver or human
subject testing - and they have investigated HUNDREDS of auto accidents which
allows them to quickly calculate delta v values for any collision
configuration.
As with other people who have asked for help along the net regarding an
injury case, I would strongly urge you to remain within your own area of
expertise - this may or may not be whiplash injury, I don't know. However, to
remain credible to your clients and to a jury, you must have a thorough
understanding of the research and of the issues involved - as with any
biomechanical topic, there are good papers and bad papers, and certain key
variables which will influence the outcome of any given accident. This type
of knowledge does not come from a cursory glance at the existing research on
a specific topic.
But after all this, I don't want to scare you off - expert witness testimony
and personal injury liability cases are very interesting in that each case is
unique from an investigative point of view - nothing you can build a
statistically significant sample from - but interesting nonetheless.
As per your whiplash injury cases, I would recommend that you start looking
at the STAPP car crash conference proceedings and get your hands on the
Traffic Accident Investigation Manuals sold through the Northwestern
University Traffic Institute, Evanston, Illinois. These are the BIBLES of
Traffic Accident Reconstruction.
Good Luck
Terry Smith
USC Head Protection Research Laboratory
Los Angeles, California
---------------------------------------------------------------------
From: jeff aitchison
Hi Dan!
Please don't quote me because I'm certainly no expert in this area.
However, my supervisor (Dr. Romilly) and my co-supervisor (Dr. Hershler)
have both done extensive research in this area. I don't know what side
you will be working with but our research tends to support the victims.
This is usually because the insurance companies have unreasonable
criteria for whiplash claims to protect themselves (not unreasonably
sometimes).
I believe that Dr. R. and Dr. H. have published papers in this area and
I know Dr. H. is often an expert witness in whiplash cases.
You can contact Dr. Romilly at: romilly@mech.ubc.ca
I'm not sure if Dr. Hershler has an email address. If he does it is:
hershler@mech.ubc.ca
Hope this helps out.
Jeff Aitchison aitchiso@mech.ubc.ca
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Richard C. Nelson"
Danny: I suggest you contact the following person who is working as a fulltime
expert witness and has served as an expert in a large number of auto accidents
Mr. Jeffrey B. Wheeler, M.S. Biomechanics: Research & Consulting, 924 Weest
wood Boulevard, Suite 860, Los Angeles, CA 90024, Tel: 310-443-5296, FAX: 310-
443-5298. In recent years I have become increasingly involved as an expert wit
ness in a variety of cases and have learned a great deal about the process,etc.
I would be very willing to speak with you about becoming an expert witness
and also can send you a variety of documents regarding my activities and the ro
le of bioemchanists in this arena. Please feel free to call me at 814-865-3445
Regards, Richard (Dick) Nelson
Biomechanics Lab
Penn State University
e-mail RCN1@PSUVM.PSU.EDU
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Amy C. Courtney"
Hi,
I read your post and would like to offer some information on
existing experts in this field. I am not necessarily recommending
their services, but the little contact I have had with them has
made a good impression on me. The following is
a small company that specializes in motor vehicle accident
reconstruction. They may be willing to help you with some of
your questions.
Henry Lipian
Introtech, Inc.
Accident Reconstruction Services
PO Box 718
Columbia Station, OH 44028
(216)748-3193 or (216)236-3702
Best Wishes,
Amy Courtney, Ph.D.
Orthopaedic Biomechanics Lab
Beth Israel Hospital and Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA
acc@bihobl2.bih.harvard.edu
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: HowieDBPG@aol.com
Hi Danny:
Tom Dorman's address and phone follow:
171 N. Santa Rosa St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 43215-1322
Phone: 805-781-3388
fax: 805-544-3126
Good luck.
Regards:
Howard
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: mys@ip.chalmers.se (Mats Svensson)
Hi Danny,
This is the reference,
McConnell, W. E.; Howard, R. P.; Guzman, H. M.; Bomar, J. B.; Raddin, J H.;
Benedict, J. V.; Smith, L. H.; Hatsell, C. P. (1993): Analysis of Human
Test Subject Responses to Low Velocity Rear End Impacts. SP-975, SAE paper
no. 930889, pp. 21-30, SAE Inc., ISBN 1-56091-360-6
Best regards,
Mats
.________________________________________.
| |
| Mats Y. Svensson, Ph.D. |
| Dept. of Injury Prevention |
| Chalmers University of Technology |
| S-412 96 Goteborg |
| SWEDEN |
| |
| Phone: +46 31 772 3644 |
| Fax: +46 31 772 3660 |
| E-mail: mys@ip.chalmers.se |
|________________________________________|
------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.S.: For those who may be interested, the litigation involved a 31 year
old female in a Toyota pickup truck (5999 pound) traveling 40 mph,
and rear-ended by a water bottle truck (18,880 pounds) traveling at 50 mph.
The medical report and x-rays confirmed a whiplash injury, after which
she went through 5.5 months of medical treatment, followed by 6.5 months
of physical therapy. She did not have medical insurance and initiated
legal action to recoup her losses. The maximum amount that can be awarded
for that case would be $25,000 and the amount determined by an arbritrator. I
was asked by the plaintiffs attorney to determine whether the possibility
of whiplash could have occurred.
Danny Too
************************************************** ********************
* *
* Danny Too, Ph.D. Phone: (702)-895-4875 *
* University of Nevada Las Vegas Fax: (702)-895-4231 *
* 4505 Maryland Parkway E-mail: dtoo@nevada.edu *
* Las Vegas, NV 89154-3034 *
* *
************************************************** ********************